Chapter 3

To make sure Adrian would keep paying for my mother’s medical bills next month, I swallowed my humiliation, put on a formal dress, and showed up at the Autumn Pack Luncheon.

I had to play the part of the perfect Stone Pack Luna. My mother's life depended on it.

But when I arrived at the estate, the garden was eerily quiet. Nobody was around.

I walked toward the pool, only to find Lydia waiting for me with a cruel smile.

Before I could react, she grabbed a handful of my hair.

With a hard shove, she slammed my head underwater.

The chlorine and water rushed up my nose, and a suffocating panic instantly took over.

I tried to thrash, but my hands were tied tightly behind my back.

"Don't move," Lydia’s mocking voice echoed from above, laced with laughter.

"If you struggle, the zipper on your dress is going to burst. Tomorrow, the entire werewolf community will be looking at nude photos of the Stone Pack Luna! Hahaha!"

A cold dread washed over me. Under the water, the only sound was my racing heart and my muffled screams.

A second later, she yanked me out of the water.

The thin fabric of my dress was dragging down from the weight of the water. I instinctively tried to cover my chest, but my wrists were locked tight.

"Elena, smile! Let's take a selfie!"

Lydia snapped a photo. In the reflection of the screen, I saw my own face.

Pale, helpless, and trembling.

Rage and humiliation exploded in my brain. With a burst of adrenaline, I ripped my hands free from the binding.

*Slap!*

I channeled all my strength into a vicious slap across Lydia’s face.

Her right cheek swelled up instantly. Her eyes widened in fury, but instead of hitting me back, she threw herself backward into the pool with a loud splash, crying out in tears.

"Elena... I just wanted to ask for the hosting rights of the banquet this year..."

"I never wanted to steal your title as Luna! Please, stop hurting me..."

Her sudden act caught me completely off guard. "What are you talking about?"

"Elena Miller! What the hell are you doing?!"

A furious roar boomed behind me. Adrian stormed over, and his palm slammed hard against my face.

The force of the blow sent a blinding pain through my head.

My vision went black, and the world spun.

Through the ringing in my ears, I heard Lydia sobbing. "Adrian, the moment Elena saw me, she..."

"Maybe she thought I was trying to take her place as Luna. She just snapped..."

Her voice was trembling, small, and sweet. She made sure to tilt her head so her bruised face was visible.

Her lies stabbed straight into my heart.

Adrian’s face grew darker, his eyes colder than ice.

"She's lying! Adrian, she's twisting the truth!"

"You—"

"Lying? I saw it with my own eyes!"

"Elena Miller, I thought you stayed quiet the last few days because you realized your mistakes. I didn't know you could be this malicious."

Adrian's chest heaved with anger, his finger shaking as he pointed at me.

"Lydia didn't even hold a grudge against you for what happened before, and yet you still can't tolerate her existence?!"

I stared into Adrian's rage-filled eyes.

Something deep inside me finally shattered.

"Again," I whispered, laughing through my tears. "You really are blind, Adrian."

"You never believe me."

"Adrian Stone, are you completely brain-dead? You're the Alpha of the Stone Pack, yet you fall for such a cheap, pathetic act."

"Elena Miller, you are utterly delusional!"

"Oh, you love hosting these events, don't you? Let's see how you're going to pay for your mother’s care home without your Luna status!"

My heart plunged into a frozen abyss.

As expected, Adrian stripped me of my duties and handed the banquet planning over to Lydia.

Lydia snuggled into Adrian's chest, throwing me a victorious smirk from behind his shoulder.

"No, Adrian, you can't do this!"

"This position... I need it! Please!"

If I lost this, I couldn't pay the facility. The image of my mother lying helplessly in that bed flashed through my mind.

"You brought this on yourself, Elena."

"This is your punishment. Consider it your apology to Lydia!"

My mind went completely blank. The terror of losing my mother drove me insane.

Lydia's smug smile pushed me over the edge.

I lunged forward, but a massive force grabbed my arm.

Adrian threw me hard onto the concrete ground.

He stood in front of Lydia, shielding her, his eyes burning with disgust.

"Elena Miller, have you lost your mind?!"

I screamed, my voice cracking with desperation:

"Adrian Stone, do you really not see the truth?! You know how badly I need—"

*Slap!*

Another slap silenced me instantly.

My vision blurred, but I could see dozens of pack members watching from the distance, whispering and pointing.

I couldn't even feel the physical pain anymore. The overwhelming humiliation burned through my veins like fire.

"I am done with your tantrums, Elena!"

"I have seen nothing but malice from you today! Someone throw her in the pool. Let her cool off and think about what she's done!"

Hands grabbed me, forcing me down into the water. The dirty pool water rushed into my nose and throat.

As I choked and struggled, the icy grip of death tightened around me once more.

***